Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Established in the midst of a bitter, tragic and divisive Civil War in which many families lost loved ones, the Seanad played a role in establishing and consolidating the democratic institutions of our State. It was under this shadow of war the Senators took their seats in this Chamber on 11 December 1922. Only four days earlier on 7 December serving Deputy, Seán Hales, was shot dead on his way to this building to oversee the election of Senators. On the following day four republican leaders, Rory O'Connor, Liam Mellows, Joe McKelvey and Richard Barrett, were executed in response. Five people dead in two days yet, just three days after that and despite very real personal danger, 60 Senators arrived here at Leinster House to take their seats in a demonstration of their commitment to the democratic process. Between November 1922 and February 1923, 37 Senators had their homes destroyed. They were intimidated and some were kidnapped but none resigned.

I invite you all to take a moment to take a moment to consider what it might have been like for those people who arrived 100 years ago to that sitting. Those Senators arrived through the gates of Leinster House just as you did this morning. Just as you did, they came through the doors, walked up the stairs to this Chamber, took their seats and took the first steps on a journey without being able to see the full road ahead. The first Seanad was described as the most diverse bunch of politicians we ever had in our history. It had 20 Protestant Members, three Quakers and one lady of Jewish faith. Its membership included Michael Duffy, a road worker from County Meath; Eileen Costello, a civil rights campaigner; Bryan Mahon, the commander-in-chief of the British forces in Ireland between 1916 and 1918; Jennie Wyse Power, a president of Cumann na mBan; Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde, the great grandson of Henry Grattan of Grattan's parliament; and of course, famously, WB Yeats.

The creators of the Seanad ensured it was diverse and a platform for the unionist and minority communities who found themselves in the new State. Over time, it evolved to give different minorities and communities a place and platform to ensure their views and calls for change were heard - change society was not always willing or ready to hear. They wished to have their voices heard in that Chamber. Those voices include a singular voice, that of our colleague, the father of the House and the longest continuing serving Senator in the history of the State. Senator Norris embodies the Seanad as a place where minority voices can make major change. We thank him for his service.

Throughout this centenary year, we have had an opportunity to shine a light on the role of women in the Seanad, mná an tSeanaid, and draw attention to the lives and works of inspirational women Senators who have championed minority issues since the first sitting in 1922. Women such as Mary Robinson and others have used their seats in the Seanad to demonstrate the need for women to have an equal voice in Irish politics and society. Only 122 women have served in the Seanad over the past 100 years, of whom 23 are in the current Seanad.

As we celebrate this centenary and as we glance back, we are looking forward to the role the Seanad will play in the next 100 years in our democratic process. Reform of the Seanad has been debated since its very establishment. We have had 14 reports on Seanad reform. The need for renewal and reform is recognised by Seanad Éireann and steps have been taken in the current 26th Seanad to make progress on reform. The referendum nearly a decade ago on the future of the Upper House shows that while people value the Seanad, there is a strong public desire for change.

The key change would be to allow more people to vote in Seanad elections. The referendum on the seventh amendment to the Constitution which would allow for this was supported by the people four decades ago and, to the best of my knowledge, it is the only referendum passed by the people that has yet to be legislated for. We currently have two Bills before the Seanad to give effect to that referendum result. They would expand the right to vote to, potentially, millions of our citizens. In that endeavour, however, we must ensure the Seanad always remains a place where Senators who represent minority communities and points of view can be elected and serve as a voice for minorities on this island.

With the support of all parties and group leaders and the Members of the Seanad, we have implemented the relevant recommendations in the Seanad reform reports that were within the power of the House to action. One of the constant themes relating to Seanad renewal and reform has concerned the scrutiny of European legislation. Until now, Departments added to EU legislation which was then signed into Irish law by Ministers, without Senators, Deputies or parliamentary committees seeing it and bypassing democratic scrutiny. I thank the Taoiseach for his assistance and for working with all Senators to get a Cabinet decision to secure the right for the Seanad to take a lead role in ensuring those EU laws are enacted on time, thus avoiding millions of euros in fines, and scrutinised by the Oireachtas before they are signed into Irish law by Ministers.

Due to its unique structure, Seanad Éireann has also been able to include the voices of those from Northern Ireland, from both traditions, which would not normally be heard in our Parliament. The presence of Northern voices from the nationalist and unionist perspectives has been critical in ensuring inclusive debate, especially during the Troubles and since the Good Friday Agreement. Northern voices such as those of Lord Glenavy, the first Cathaoirleach, and in later years, Gordon Wilson, Seamus Mallon, Bríd Rodgers, Ian Marshall and Martin McAleese have provided insights that have not always been present in the Dáil. As the debate around the relationship between Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK continues to evolve, the role of the Seanad will continue to grow in importance.

As we leave through the doors of this Chamber today, the same doors those 60 Senators walked through 100 years ago, into an uncertain tomorrow we remember them, cuimhnímid orthu, and all the generations before them for the sacrifices they made to secure the independence we now enjoy. It is important we take this time to reflect over the past 100 years and look forward with hope, confidence and optimism to the next 100 years for all the people on this island.

It is now my privilege to invite the Taoiseach to address us. In the course of his service as a public representative in public life he has, by any measure, made major changes in all the offices he has held. Since he was elected to Cork City Council in 1985, to Dáil Éireann in 1989 and as the first citizen and Lord Mayor of Cork from 1992-93, his public service has been about change. Time does not allow me to outline all the changes he has made in all the offices he has held. He has, as Taoiseach, led us through the most unprecedented challenges of modern times; the Covid pandemic, Brexit and the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine. He has represented Ireland on the world stage and he honours us today with his presence.